Well, whether there was a murder, I don't know, I wasn't there
I was busy visiting a friend in jail
There were just two women on the scene at the time
Neither one of 'em saw a thing, both of 'em were wearing veils
They said it was a natural situation
He reached too high and tumbled back to the ground
You know what they say about being nice to people on your way up
"You might meet 'em again on your way back down"

But it's too late to bring him back
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late to bring him back

He had a brother named Paul hang out at the cafe royal
Where Miss Dolly plays and the reviews have been mixed
Well, he's pretty to look at looking for someone to throw the book at
But you know that he drinks and drinks, can't be fixed
Sing me one more song about your summer romance, I know
You don't know "Motherless Children"
sing me the one about you and Errol Flynn
In these times of compassion where conformity's a fashion
Say one more stupid thing to me before the final nail is driven in

But it's too late to bring him back
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late to bring him back

Dr. Silver Spoon from the empress ballroom
He's a retired businessman who feeds off everyone he's touched
Gives money to the church and foundations for research
He's not someone you can play around with too much
But then there's Rosetta Blake who's been to both sides of the lake
She's rough to look at but she's righteously fit
She'll feed you coconut bread and spiced buns in bed
You won't have to worry 'bout sleeping face down
with your head in the plate

But it's too late to bring him back
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late to bring him back

You'll arrange to see your man tonight
Who tells you some secret things you think might open some doors
How to enter the gates of paradise, no not really
More like how to go crazy from carrying a burden
that's never meant to be yours
From the stage they'll be doing the bumps and the grinds
A whore will pass the hat, collect a hundred grand and say thanks
They like to take all this money from sin
and build big universities to study in
And sing Amazing Grace all the way to the Swiss Bank

But it's too late to bring him back
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late to bring him back

They got some serious people out there, man
They can ring your bell and show you how to hold your tongue
They don't come to party, man
They kill babies in the crib and say only the good die young
They don't believe in mercy
And judgment on them is something you'll never see
They can put your face on a postage stamp
Turn your home into an armed camp anyway they want you
That's the way you'll be

But it's too late to bring him back
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late to bring him back

Yes, I loved him too
I still see him in my mind climbing up that hill
Or was it a wall, I don't recall
It don't matter at all and it never will
Ain't nothing left here partner
Just the dust of fools that have left their mark in spades
From now on this will be where you're from
Let the dead bury the dead, your time will come
Feel that hot iron glowing now as you raise the shades

But it's too late to bring him back
Too late, too late, too late, too late, too late to bring him back